As a general matter, I feel like when I critique the Wisconsin Public Radio poll done by St. Norbert College I am kicking a small ugly puppy or something. Everyone knows it as a bad poll, yet the mainstream media covers it every time it comes out, so we must give it some attention here. Thankfully this particular release has received only limited coverage (GBPG, Badger Herald, River Falls Journal).
There are always the typical complaints: the fact that it polls residents, not voters; the 14-day sample window (professional polls average three days); the underrepresentation of Republicans; the small sample size.
It is particularly irresponsible for media to cite the presidential primary numbers. The Republican sample is 29% of 400 residents (who may not all be registered, little less likely, voters), or 116. That is laughably small for a statewide poll to draw any sort of conclusions. The Democratic sample of 188 is hardly any better. Although actually, even given the small sample, the numbers track remarkably close to the Strategic Vision poll from late February… the only significant deviation was Obama, who got a lot of free media from his Milwaukee visit.
Of course, the best way to check polling is to compare it to other comparable recent polling. We have a recent (April 13-15) poll by SurveyUSA autodialing and finding George W. Bush’s approval rating as president at 33%, with 65% of Wisconsin adults disapproving. A March 9-11 SurveyUSA poll showed a 35-63 approve/disapprove for President Bush. A February 9-11 SurveyUSA found Bush at 34-64. A February 23-25 poll by Strategic Vision of 800 likely Wisconsin voters found Bush at 27% approval, 62% disapproval. The SNC poll had Bush at 34% for somewhat or very satisfied, proving the point that we’ll see in a moment with Doyle – there’s a good chunk of folks who would say Somewhat Satisfied when phrased one way, but Disapprove when asked another way.
We have a March 9-11 poll of Governor Doyle’s approval rating, also by SurveyUSA, showing 45% approve, 51% disapprove. A February 9-11 SurveyUSA poll on Doyle found 47-49 approve-disapprove. To say Doyle has an approval rating of 60% is simply not the case.
Oh, an ode to reliable polling…
P.S. Wisconsin runs on Clinton-care. Governor Doyle’s road to 98% is paved with federal dollars. The Wall Street Journal Editorial Board notes that, “As of February 2007, the Government Accountability Office found that 14 states were using Schip [the State Children's Health Insurance Program] to cover adults: pregnant women, parents of Medicaid or Schip kids–and even childless adults. Arizona, Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin cover more adults than children.” Read the whole editorial.
P.P.S. Hate Israel? Gold Star for You: The 2007 “Spirit of Marquette Award” from the Office of Student Development, the premier student organization award given away every year by Marquette, has gone to the Arab Student Association. Two years ago the Award was given to the Muslim Student Assocation. We have documented many times before, as has Dr. McAdams, the virulently anti-Israel bent of the speakers and presentations offered by the ASA…
PPPS Jack Valenti has died. He was a fixture of DC and often on CSPAN, and I always liked him. His passing marks an end to an era.
Last 5 posts by Daniel- Tom Barrett's Savings Plan - June 8th, 2010
- C.J. Abrahamson on J. Stevens - April 11th, 2010
- Why always Bill Bablitch? - March 24th, 2010
- Suhr on Nixon on Health Care - February 23rd, 2010
- Did the USCCB Foresee Dead People? - February 8th, 2010
Haha, great opening. So cruel Daniel, picking on that small ugly puppy. Solid post though, when will the MSM stop covering rubbish?
When people stop accepting the rubbish… remember they are running a business (not just a service)…